travdog, talk about negative focus!
I assume this is the post you are referring to:

"Message: Hi
I completely agree that some posters, probably newbies, aren't helping themselves much when they use vague or very general titles on their postings."

What is it about the term newbie that offends you? Sure we were all newbies once and most of us have willingly learned how to more effectively post questions as well as answers. Or are you just objecting that someone is helpfully suggesting how those posters ("probably newbies&quot can "help themselves" to get better answers?

What in the world is negative focus here except a refusal to want to improve?

I just knew someone would jump on my last post.

Patrick, actually I'm not "offended" by the word newbie, at all. But, I think that to say that "newbies... aren't helping themselves" seems to imply those newer to this site are somehow irritating to those who have been around a while, and know how the site flows. Of course, I realize that a vaguely titled question will get less responses, which is part of the point, here.

Patrick, a little more response from me on your post, here....

My point was not that the idea that a proper title on a post being suggested is a bad thing. But, the negativity surrounding it is off-putting.

I mean, take your post for example. You effectively asked me if I am objecting to a helpful tip. The sarcasm is palpable here, and I just don't understand why.

Patrick, it's all in the delivery.

Huh? What sarcasm? I'm dead serious. I'm trying to figure out what is negative about helpfully suggesting how to improve posts? Yes, I WAS asking if you (or rather any poster) object to a helpful tip, but that's because I really can't figure out if it isn't that, then what it is you ARE objecting to.

Frankly, I think you're reading an awful lot into that post you referred to. I can't for the life of me see how someone mentioning that people aren't helping themselves by using vague posts is getting twisted to mean that those posters are "irritating". Where does that come from? Not from the post as I read it. That same poster even went on to say "and this is politely meant. . .". What more does one have to say to indicate they aren't being nasty, but helpful?

Hi, Tallulah. Can I just say I 100% agree. I just don't bother telling nyone most of the time.

The other real funny is when teh heading question is just silly, but instead of being able to post a silly answr, the OP has been sensible in the text. Spoils all the fun

I must say I do always open the ones with the provocative, if unintentionally misleading, headlines. Recently there was one titled "Virgin With Child" which was, of course, about flying on Virgin Airlines with a child.

Patrick, if you can't see the negative tone in phrases like "REFUSAL to want to improve" or the sarcasm in the implication of someone objecting to a helpful tip, then there's nothing I can do to make you understand where I am coming from on this.

Perhaps I was reading into the newbie comment.

As an all too frequent reader and poster on this site, I just don't understand complaining about what other people choose to post. Skip it, or make a helpful suggestion or answer the question. I can't imagine getting "blood boiling" mad over anything here.